Vitamins and Minerals

When you think of vitamins and minerals I hope you don’t think about elderly medication and the stuff you scrape out of a rock. Everyone’s body needs vitamins and minerals, but it’s not something our body produces- we have to get them from the food we eat.

If your diet includes a wide variety of foods like: whole grain products, fresh fruit and Vegetables, dairy products, nuts and seeds, eggs and/or meat then you’re probably getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. You might not realize, but maybe you get most of these throughout your day. Chances are- probably not all (unless your 100% focused on nutrition and health).

Vitamins and minerals are composed from different things, but both are essential for the body’s structure and function.

Vitamins are naturally found in fruits and vegetables and sometimes even in animals.

Minerals are found in soil and water. We can even find them in plants (extracts minerals from soil) and animals (who ate the mineral-soiled plant).

What do vitamins and minerals do? They boost your immune system! They support normal growth and development and help cells and organs do their job! That’s important work!

Our first lesson will talk mainly about Vitamins.

Vitamins differ from one another, one might dissolve in water or another one fat. In order for our body to use vitamins, either water or fat needs to be available. Luckily for me I got plenty of fat available *badum-chi*.

Now check these out, these are the vitamins that need fat for absorption: A, D, E, and K

These, on the other hand, are water required: Vitamins C and B (B12, thiamin, folic acids. . etc.)

I know what you’re probably asking by now-WHERE CAN I GET SUCH MIRACULOUS VITAMINS!? Check this out:

Helps the body use proteins and energy. Helps eyes, and maintain smooth skin

Niacin

Whole grains, dairy products, meat, fish, poultry, peanuts

Helps maintain healthy nerves and digestion

Folic Acid

Dark leafy greens, grains, meat, eggs

Maintains health of red blood cells.

Notice all the colorful foods associated with the vitamin. When your plate is this colorful, you know you’re doing a good job getting vitamins.

Can food loose its nutrients?

Yes, it can!

Minerals and especially vitamins can be lost in our food if they are exposed to a large amount of either heat, air, or water. Each nutrient reacts differently, but the best way to conserve our nutrients is to avoid overcooking our fruits and vegetables (yes, you can cook fruits and vegetables. You don’t have to eat them raw all the time), and properly storing them in a cool and dry place. This chart should help you out:

Nutrient

Heat

Air

Water

Vitamin A

X

Vitamin E

X

X

Vitamin C

X

X

X

Thiamin

X

X

Riboflavin

X

Folate

X

X

Vitamin B12

X

X

Conclusion –

This is Part 1, next month we’ll talk more about minerals. For now, no matter your age group-I’d recommend a colorful plate full of different kinds of vitamins (whether nutrition prescribed or doctor prescribed).